Singer Jamie Tinkler has been booted out of the X Factor. The Middlesbrough-born performer cruised through to the show's boot camp stage with his band Avenue after impressing judges with a version of Will Young's Leave Right Now.

But the band's celebrations were short-lived when producers discovered the five boys were put together for the show by a rival pop mogul.

Judges Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh were said to be furious when they discovered the band already had a management contract.

A spokesman for the X Factor said: "Contrary to the information that Avenue provided to the production throughout the audition process, we have since discovered that the boys had been put together and signed a management contract with a third party both of which they failed to declare."

Louis said: "It was a hard decision to have to make and I've had sleepless nights trying to decide what to do for the best.

"The boys are very talented but they broke the rules so unfortunately they had to go."

The revelation follows rumours in the national press that Avenue had a management deal with Ashley Tabor - who looks after X Factor runners-up G4. Avenue have been axed despite ending their deal.

In the past Jamie, 25, has made it through to the final 50 in Pop Idol, been pipped to the post to represent England in the Eurovision Song Contest and had three hits with Pete Waterman's band Pop!